Tiny Hyundai from India

Washington DC August 18, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that Hyundai Motor Co. is nearing a decision to bring a small car sized between the Smart ForTwo and the Honda Fit to the United States — and may source it from India.

Automotive News reports that the car will be the i10, a five-door hatchback produced in Chennai, India, that gets up to 56 mpg. The i10 went on sale last October and is sold in about 70 countries. Click here for a picture. We're really watching sales of the Smart car," said a Hyundai source who asked not to be identified. "If the Smart does well, we will probably definitely get this car."

The i10 is 140 inches long — 21 inches shorter than the Fit and 34 inches longer than the Smart ForTwo. Hyundai sources say the i10 would need beefing up for the United States.

"We will put about 400 or so pounds into it and bring it up to U.S. safety standards," said the Hyundai source. "This is a real working prototype. When we get cars at this stage, there's a good chance they're a go."